An experimental feasibility study evaluating the adequacy of sportswear-type wearables for recording physical exercise intensity

Sportswear-type wearables with integrated inertial sensors and electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes, have been developed. We examined the feasibility of using sportswear-type wearables to evaluate exercise intensity within a controlled laboratory setting. Six male college athletes were asked to don a sportswear-type wearable while performing a treadmill test that reached up to 20 km/h. The magnitude of the filtered tri-axial acceleration signal, recorded by the inertial sensor, was used to calculate the acceleration index. The R-R intervals of ECG were used to determine heart rate; the external validity of the heart rate was then evaluated according to oxygen uptake, which is the gold standard physiological exercise intensity. Single regression analyses between treadmill speed and the acceleration index in each participant showed that the slope of the regression line was significantly greater than zero with a high coefficient of determination (walking, 0.95; jogging, 0.96; running, 0.90). Another single regression analyses between heart rate and oxygen uptake showed that the slope of the regression line was significantly greater than zero, with a high coefficient of determination (0.96). Together, these results indicate that sportswear-type wearables are a feasible technology for evaluating physical and physiological exercise intensity across a wide range of physical activities and sport performances.

Design Analysis of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Blade Using Biomimicry

Performance and efficiency of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine improved by using a modified turbine blade, derived from biological features, by harness more wind energy. The detailed simulations were carried in Q-blade’s X-foil, Java foil and Sim Scale software at low wind speed with bio-mimicable cambered foil add-ons to different biostructure blades such as Maple seed leaf, Eagle wing. Among these simulations, the Corrugated Dragonfly vein FX 63-137 foil shows improved performance over cambered foils and FX 63-37 itself. The Maple-Wing combined blade structure showed an improved lift-drag ratio with a high coefficient of power.

Genetic diversity of black mangrove (Rhizophora mucronata Lamk.) based on morphological markers in Maros, Pangkep, and Barru Provenances

Mangrove forests are tropical and subtropical forests that grow typically along the coast or river estuaries. Black mangroves are a type of mangrove found in South Sulawesi, precisely in Maros, Pangkep, and Barru Districts. The decline in black mangrove populations overcomes the threat limit to germplasm which can lead to reduced genetic diversity in black mangrove plants. To reduce the incidence of extinction in black mangroves, information on genetic diversity using one of the markers is required, namely morphological markers in taking samples of tree parts taken, namely the leaves, stems, and roots which are then for monitoring carried out in the Biotechnology Laboratory and tree breeding. The method used in this study is based on the literature on the development of the Tropical Fruit Descriptor information system. The results of the three studies proved that there is a difference between the evidence and the interprovenencies. The very close morphological kinship between them proved to be found in Pangkep. Pangkep’s provenance has a high coefficient compared to the proof of Maros and Barru, which is at the time level of 70%, while the proof of Maros has the lowest coefficient compared to the proof of Barru and Pangkep, which is at the gathering level of 64%.

Features of cooling bodies with a high coefficient of thermal effusivity in subcooled mixtures

The paper focuses on the study a special type of boiling, "microbubble boiling". Experiments are carried out on water-ethanol mixtures of different concentrations. The pressure varies from 0.1 to 0.3 MPa; and copper and stainless-steel samples are used as working samples. The purpose of the experiments is to investigate the effect of such parameters as solid and liquid properties and subcooling on the transition temperature from the stable film boiling to “microbubble” boiling regime. In the course of direct comparison of the results obtained by cooling the samples with different thermal effusivity under the same conditions, a strong influence of the properties of the cooled body on the quenching process has been revealed.

Some Naturalized and Wilded Woody Plants in the Vcinity of Tbilisi

The article deals with the contemporary condition of some naturalized and wilded woody plants in the vicinity of Tbilisi: Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm., Cercis siliquastrum L., Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle., Fraxinus ornus L. and the nature of their participation in phytocenoses. The research took place in Tbilisi surrounding, approximately in 20 places. The study revealed that Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm., Cercis siliquastrum L. Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, Fraxinus ornus L., are distinguished by aggression, and those who have a high coefficient of multiplication, propagate well by seeds and root shoots. Besides, they get well into natural and artificial phytocenoses, and win in competition with local and introduced plants and micro groupings, causing their transformation. It is necessary to limit the spread of these introduced plants, in order to avoid complete destruction of local phytcenoses and decorative plants.

Length-weight relationship and morphometrics of Osmerus eperlanus populations from two lakes of northeastern Poland

This study provides the length-weight relationship (LWR) of European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) occurring in two lakes in northeastern Poland. The morphometric characters of the two populations of this species in lakes Dargin and Dejguny were also compared. The LWRs were highly significant (P < 0.05) with a high coefficient of determination (r2 ≥ 0.923). The estimated b values ranged from 3.256 to 3.508. Sixteen of the 26 morphological characters measured differed between the two populations. No sexual dimorphism was observed. The research presents detailed data on the biometric characters of the species that contributes to the assessment of phenotypic plasticity and general morphological variation of the populations.

Federal Vaccine Policy and Interstate Variation in COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage in India

IntroductionOn August 13, 2021, India completed 30 weeks of vaccination against COVID-19 for its eligible citizens. While the vaccination has made progress, there has been no study analyzing the federal/union vaccine policy and its effect on vaccination coverage across Indian states. In this context, this study analyses the federal vaccination policy and its effect on interstate variation in vaccine coverage and the correlation of state economy with vaccination coverage.MethodsThe study analyses vaccine policy documents, secondary data on vaccination coverage and state gross domestic product (GDP) available in public domain. ANOVA test has been used to assess the effect of vaccine policy on interstate vaccine coverage and correlation-regression analysis has been conducted to assess the type and strength of association between gross state domestic product and vaccination coverage.ResultsInterstate variation in vaccination coverage in the first 15 weeks was the least (F=3.5), when vaccine procurement and supply was entirely provided by the union/federal government and vaccination was limited to priority groups. However, with the extension of vaccine policy to other groups and reduction in federal government involvement in vaccine procurement, the interstate variation in vaccination coverage increased significantly (F=10.74) by the end of 30 weeks. The highest interstate variation was observed in the period between 23-30 weeks (F=25.31). State GDP was positively and strongly correlated with state vaccination coverage with a high coefficient of correlation (R=0.94) and high coefficient of determination (R2= 0.88).ConclusionsThe study finds that federal procurement and supply of vaccination among prioritized groups has been the best strategy till date to address the inequity in vaccination coverage across the states of India.

Effect of Fe and Cr on the Macro/Micro Tribological Behaviours of Copper-Based Composites

Fe and Cr are regarded as two of the most important friction components in Cu-based composites (Cu–BCs). In this study, the microstructural detection and micro- and macro-tribology evaluation of Cu–BCs containing Fe and Cr were performed. The results indicated that both Fe and Cr formed diffusion interfaces with the copper matrix. Because of the generation of a defect interface layer, the Cr/Cu interface exhibited a low bonding strength. Owing to the excellent binding interface between Fe and Cu, the high coefficient of friction (COF) of Fe, and the formation of a mechanical mixing layer promoted by Fe, the Cu–BCs containing Fe presented better friction performance under all braking energy per unit area (BEPUA) values. The main wear mechanism of Cu–BCs containing Fe and Cr changed from abrasion to delamination with an increase in BEPUA, and the delamination of Cu–BCs containing Fe was induced by breaks in the mechanical mixed layer (MML).